MOBILE, Alabama – A $2.2 million improvement project of
Ziegler Boulevard from Athey to Cody roads and a $450,000 skateboard park
highlights a $4.4 million capital improvement project list the City Council
will be asked to vote on Tuesday.

Al Stokes, the chief of staff for Mobile Mayor Sam Jones,
said today that money for the projects comes from an increase in the Alabama
Trust Fund. He said the fund, which provided the city with $4 million this
year, only doled out $1.6 million to the city last year.

Last year's money, Stokes said, went toward paying portions
of the city's debt and into a tax-increment financing contingency fund. Also,
approximately $900,000 was spent on public building maintenance and grounds
work.

"If we only had that amount of money this year, you would
not have a skate park and couldn't do Ziegler Boulevard," Stokes said.

This year's appropriation includes similar expenses as last
year: $300,000 to the TIF contingency, $300,000 to building and grounds
allowance, and $300,000 to public building and mechanical maintenance.

Also, $390,225 will go toward continued paying on debt
service for The Connie Hudson Mobile Regional Senior Community Center at 3201
Hillcrest Road. The city is paying off debt from an approximately $5.5 million
center that has been opened for more than five years.

The other expense is $445,775 for unspecified city-wide roof
repairs.

City Council President Reggie Copeland said he anticipates
some questions about the costs for the skateboard park.

He questions whether it can become a tourist draw.

Copeland said he wished the city would have spent the
$450,000 on a new soccer complex.

"I hope we get a good return, but I'm not optimistic about
it," he said. "I think (skateboarders) will come in and skate and then go home."